Professional wrestling is full of challengers to the crown. Over the last forty or so years, there have been three major challenges for the top promotion spot. First the WWE challenged and eventually overtook the NWA in the 80s, WCW tried and failed to topple the WWE in the 90s, and in the early 2000s, TNA-NWA tried to wrest the position from the WWE. Television shows are key to gaining popularity, and on this day in wrestling history, June 3, 2004, TNA-NWA taped their first episode of Impact at Universal Studios.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjO8LIVpWxE
Pay-per-view based
Despite TNA being in production for two years, the show airing the following day (June 4, 2004) would be many fans’ introduction to the new and different product.
For starters, they used a six-sided ring that completely changed the way matches were done and added an instant element of curiosity and surprise. They also instituted time limits (something we rarely see anymore) for different matches — non-title matches had a ten minute time limit, championship matches thirty. Adding another element similar to boxing, three judged sat at ringside and would make a decision if any match went the time limit.
This was highly innovative and added to the drama as fans had to wait to hear the results instead of watching the outcome happen. It also changed the chances for matches to end in a draw, which theoretically would lead to wrestlers not holding back and playing it safe.
The thing about this was, while it was innovative, it could be taken as a way to restore the kayfabe boundary that had been shattered in 1997 by the WWE with the Montreal Screwjob. Personally, this was a pretty cool way of doing it even if it seemed unneeded. The uncertainty surrounding a match, especially a championship one, really drew us in and made us pay attention. The major downside to this is the officials could easily become more hated then the heel depending how they scored a match. If that was their intension, great. If not, well…
Another fun thing was TNA Impact was a pay-per-view only show — fans had to pay $9.99 a week to see their show on Fox Sports Net.
While innovative, there were issues with this format. While fans flocked to it as its differences were worth seeing at least once and they began signing former WWE stars, the pay-per-view format only lasted until September 2004, to the delight of many fans. While paying for the occasional show wasn’t bad, doing it every week was a difficult decision for many given wrestling had aired for free on television prior to this.
Old habits die hard.
Refusing to die
It seems that no matter what happens, Impact refuses to die. It’s earned the moniker (lovingly used by use) as the cockroach of professional wrestling. This, for us, is a good thing, as it’s help make the promotion edgier and grittier. It combines modern show production with old school grit and dirt as the matches often look like they’re actually beating each other. It’s become a cool combination of old and new school, making it too hard to swallow for those looking for a WWE PG show, but not as bloody as AEW at times. And its fanbase appreciates it as they are rabid fans that are on their feet during every show (pre-lockdown era).
As Impact stated on their Instagram account, they’ve totaled 3906 matches over 800 episodes. They are endlessly grateful to us for watching them, and we are to them for finding a way to survive in an era dominated by the WWE.
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